I started flying for Delta the 1st month the girls switched from “the army uniforms.” (3/69)Still,Delta was slow to come to the party;they weren’t ready for short skirts,dyed hair,& big eye lashes.Since I was “born ready” we went through a few rough years.You could call it a “failure to communicate.” (:
To the people asking if stewardesses were politically correct or if they were ‘objectify-ed’ I say:Political correctness & objective-ism…No Thanks!Can anyone look at today’s workforce & tell me how PC helped them? I’ll put my empowerment (in a short skirt) up against theirs Any Day.

Fabulous! My mom was in the original class of stews for Hughes Air West in the mid-fifties, when stewardesses were required to be single and slim…my dad was a career pilot and we had to dress up for every flight we took. Back when travel was fun!

PSA (Pretty Sexy Airlines) was the BEST! The girls used to walk down the isle with gallon jugs of wine, all you want, and sit next to you and chit chat. They had uniforms with dozens of buttons, half undone!

I was a young engineer flying PSA and TWA in those good old daze. PSA was fun for the patrons and they made money for their stockholders – then the feds stepped in and spoiled it all by making them cut back on the freebies.

I love these – so fabulously retro. The uniforms are so much cooler than you’d find today.
You sense these images are from a ‘Golden Age’ of flying when people dressed up in suits for their journey and flying was exciting and glamourous.

I was a “stew” for Mohawk Airlines in the mid 60’s. Those heels we had to wear were killers! Had to have permission to change your hair color, couldn’t gain more than 5 pounds, couldn’t be married, etc. etc. but I bet we had more fun than the flight attendants do now with all of their rules

I was a “Stew” in the 60s and 70s. We had great fun, we got to know passengers, and I personally loved the life with Central Airlines out of Ft. Worth, Tex. What wonderful days those were. We flew DC-3’s and Convair 240’s. Yes, those were the days! Hello Branniff, our gate was next to yours in Dallas. You were gorgeous with your colorful planes and cute uniforms!

I flew for Delta for 47 years and these pictures brought back so many wonderful memories of when I first started. Debbie Hall look again, the picture of the stew and the pilot in the cockpit is Delta and the 4 flight att. in front of the Delta plane are Delta ladies including Carol Koberline who was our last Debbie Delta.

I started flying for Delta the 1st month the girls switched from “the army uniforms.” 3/69 Still,Delta was slow to come to the party;they weren’t ready for short skirts,dyed hair,& big eye lashes.Since I was “born ready” we went through a few rough years.You could call it a”failure to communicate” (:
To the people asking if stewardesses were politically correct or if they were ‘objectify-ed’ I say:Screw politically correctness & objective-ism.Can anyone look at today’s workforce & tell me how PC helped them? I’ll put my empowerment (in a short skirt) up against theirs Any Day.

Great pics–the girls were fabulous!!! I was a young engineer traveling a lot–everyone dressed to the nines–champagne–piano bar in the aft compartment–
it sure made 7 hour transcontinental flights enjoyable!! Then the jets came–7 hours reduced to 5–still had the piano bar and pretty girls!! It’s awful now–everyone looks like slobs!! (Sorry–not the girls!!)

Loved the 60’s and the beautiful “Stews”. Remember most, two beauties who got us started of right by giving a song and dance act on old Capitol Air Lines from Muskegon Michigan to Chicago Midway in the Morning. They were young, they were beautiful and sincere. The talent dripped from them.

Vinage stewardess makes me feel old. Started flying in 1964 for Delta. What a life. We were young, pretty and breaking rules.
At 66, I have only gained 15 pounds from my hire weight of 105. Bet most of you can’t say that

Where are the AAL gals? I didn’t see a one of us in your pictures. I flew with American from 1966-2001. What an incredible life! I met people from all walks of life, celebrities, politicians, athletes and just your every day folks. My job was fantastic! I have written a book about my career but am having no luck getting anyone to even read the manuscript. If any of you “Stewardess Fans” know someone who might help me get it published it might answer a lot of the questions asked here. Glad to know there is still interest in what it was really like “Behind the Smiles.”

These outfits are alive and well in Japan and on Qatar Airways. But I have to agree, these were the days! As a kid I visited the flight deck many times, and if we were late to the airport we went out to the runway and paid the stewardess the $25 for a flight from LAX to PHX. Those were great days! Thanks for the memories!

I was lucky enough to be a stewardess for the Queen of the skies, Pan Am. They truly were the “good old days of flying”. It was a wonderful company, and I saw the world and got good pay to do it. I sat and chatted with movie stars, politicians, athletes and just great families taking vacations of a lifetime. I treasure the experiences and the many friendships I still enjoy today. Thanks for the memories, Pan Am!!

[…] concoctions that are neither. I take the same precautions when I fly. I wasn’t around during the golden age of air travel, when passengers actually dressed and acted like human beings for the occasion, but when they […]